Prep Football: Titans recover, advance past Golden Eagles

DeMarcus Vines breaks a punt return on the sidelines to break open Boylan’s win. Vines returned the punt 75 yards for a touchdown. (Photo by Matt Nestor)

By Matt NestorPrep Sports Reporter

The Algonquin Jacobs Golden Eagles came in wanting to shut down DeMarcus Vines. They nearly executed that plan to perfection Saturday, Oct. 27. But anything short of perfection is enough for Vines to beat you.

Jacobs jumped out to a 10-0 lead in their IHSA Class 7A first-round game against Boylan, but Vines ran for a 39-yard score and a 75-yard punt return to help Boylan to a 28-10 victory.

The Golden Eagles keyed on Vines, and it showed. The senior ran for 71 yards on 17 carries, but only 32 of those yards came on 16 carries.

With Jacobs taking Vines away, it left more pressure on quarterback Brock Stull and the rest of the Titans’ offense.

Algonquin Jacobs’ Connor Conzelman makes a leaping interception of a Brock Stull pass. That was the only turnover for Boylan in the win. (Photo by Matt Nestor)

“They were coming down pretty hard,” Stull said of the Jacobs’ defense. “If DeMarcus is out of the game, it leaves more pressure on me.”

Stull responded to the pressure, rushing for a team-high 84 yards, including a 43-yard scamper with his team backed up on their own goal line. He also threw for 155 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown to Luke Salamone.

The offense was aided by a defense that didn’t show up at first, but was dominant down the stretch.

Greg Sidor ran in for a 4-yard touchdown on Jacobs’ first possession, and Matt Fahey kicked a 22-yard field goal on their second possession to help Jacobs jump out to a 10-0 lead.

From there, the Titans’ defense dominated, causing four turnovers and limiting the Golden Eagles to only a few first downs the rest of the game.

“We came together as one,” said defensive back Matt Johnson, who had two interceptions. “No pointing fingers and blaming anyone. We knew we had to stop them.”

Boylan’s Peter Cimino hauls in a diving catch at the goal line. His catch helped set up a Zachary Matthews touchdown in a 28-10 Boylan win. (Photo by Matt Nestor)

The Titans move on to face Oak Park (Fenwick), who were 10-9 winners over Huntley in their first-round matchup.